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History of Riverside Consolidated School

from the Chronicle

The Albert CountyChronicle

May 23, 2005

History of RiversideConsolidated School

At the turn of the century,
“consolidation” of rural school was an educational movement being promoted all across Canada. By building a large central school with well-educated teachers and better equipment, the children in outlying rural
communities would receive the same educational advantages as children who lived in larger centres.

In 1903 New Brunswick passed legislation encouraging the establishment of consolidated schools. The
Honourable Abner Reid McClelan, a resident of Riverside who was a former lieutenant-governor of the province provided the thrust to build
such a school by donating $5,000 towards its construction. The province paid $1,000 and the remaining $14,000 was paid by
local taxpayers.

In July of 1904 construction of the school began on a rise of highland on the left bank of the ShepodyRiver, between the village of Riverside
Albert. The architect, Watson Reid of
Riverside, supervised the construction of the three story wooden building with its foundation
of freestone in Midway and New Ireland.

When Riverside Consolidated opened in September of 1905, 225 students filed through the doors and
experienced the most modern facilities available at the time. The school had five departments and staff of seven teachers.
The AlbertCountyGrammar
school was one department, enabling students
to prepare for University Matriculation. The other departments included Household or Domestic Science, manual Training, Agriculture
and school Gardening. Everyone was enthusiastic about the potential of the new school and many residents donated equipment
and library books.

Although classes began in September 1905, the formal opening ceremony took place June 15, 1906. The New Brunswick Premier Tweedie Chief Superintendent of Education, J.R. Inch and many other
officials arrived by way of the steamer “Wilfred C.” at the RiversideWharf. There they were met by Honourable A.R. McClelan and the drum and bugle of Albert performed.

In the years since 1905 the Riverside Consolidated School has indeed provided a sound education,
former students include a Prime Minister of Canada, leaders in all professions and occupations and most importantly –
respected community citizens. Many changes to the Riverside-Albert area were a bustling commercial centre. However, some things
have not changes. The school still stands on the original location, looking mush the same as it did in 1905 and RiversideConsolidated School is still committed to providing the best educational opportunities possible to
the students who enter its doors!

On June
12, 1997 a plaque was unveiled that now designated the
Riverside Consolidated School as a “historic building”.

The RiversideConsolidated
School is New Brunswick’s oldest consolidated school to be still in continuous use.

Edgetts Landing School 1900

from the Chroicle

Edgett’s Landing School Early 1900’s

The school was located on Highway 114

The property is now owned by Roy MacKay

Surrey School

from the Chronicle

Surrey School

Now demolished, was located in the rear of

Cooke’s Kwik Mart, Hillsborough.

Later it became the home of Floyd Smith.

The Hebron School

from the Chronicle

Story to the right

The Hebron School

Submitted By: Phillis & Melven Dewolfe

The Hebron School

Fern McCurdy, a resident of the Kinsmen House in Riverview has fond memories of Hebron School, Hebron,
Albert County. In this article, she recalls the school, built in 1882 with clapboard and birchbark insulation. The school
building is still there although the last class was held in 1926. "The first school was built on land
owned by Wint Akerley, located across from where the present school now sits. The trustees decided to erect a new school on
land owned by James Smith and the original school was sold to Andrew Alcorn who moved it to
his property. The present school building, constructed in 1882 was erected on a stone foundation with
clapboards on the exterior over birch bark insulation. The interior finished by John Cannon was plaster over lathes.
The interior was one large room with a wood stove in the center. Two large blackboards were painted on the plastered walls
and the teacher's desk was placed on a raised platform at the rear. The room had four windows one on each side.
The handmade school desks came from the first school and each desk accommodated two children. Gertrude Wilbur, a teacher,
organised a social to fund the purchase of new desks. The new desks also held two children and each child had an inkwell and
a ridge at the front to prevent books from sliding. “We bought our own textbooks and used a slate
and slate pencil instead of notebooks. School was discontinued in January and February because of inclement weather.
The teachers boarded in various homes owned by the Alcorns, Sinclairs and Hanlons and were paid by a government grant and
tax collections. The last teacher, Ellis Wilbur received a salary of $419.00 for the trustees and a grant of $120.00 for the
year. Room and board cost $2.00 per week. The final year of operation, pupil registration was down and
it was decided to send the remaining students to school in Alma by horse drawn van. The school, still standing today is on
the Sinclair property in Hebron."